City Council reallocates $55K to police program and highway asphalt repairs

The City of Warwick held its second day of budget hearings for the fiscal year 2026 on May 22, 2025, focusing on key amendments to the proposed budget. The discussions primarily revolved around reallocating funds from the primary election account to various city programs, including public safety and public works.

Councilman Ricks proposed an amendment to transfer $55,000 from the primary election expenses, redistributing $45,000 to the police night program and $10,000 to the Public Works Highway Asphalt account. This amendment was met with no objections from the council members and was approved unanimously.

The council also discussed the specifics of the asphalt funding, clarifying that the $10,000 allocated to the Public Works would be used for crack sealing and pothole repairs. Mayor and council members acknowledged the importance of maintaining the city’s infrastructure, emphasizing that even a modest increase in funding could significantly impact road maintenance.

Councilman Lazar suggested that the council solicitor read out proposed amendments submitted by council members to streamline the process and ensure all relevant changes were considered. This approach aimed to enhance efficiency during the budget discussions.

Overall, the meeting underscored the council's commitment to addressing public safety and infrastructure needs while managing the city's budget effectively. The next steps will involve further discussions on additional amendments and finalizing the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.